Video: Brockton Fair kicks off Wednesday

Monday

Jun 29, 2009 at 12:01 AMJun 29, 2009 at 1:55 AM

The 135th Brockton Fair opens Wednesday and continues through July 12 at the Belmont Street fairgrounds. Tens of thousands of people from across the region descend on the fair each year. Popular attractions include the fireworks displays, demolition derby, professional wrestling, truck pull, and mud “bogging,” where drivers maneuver their vehicles through a thick pile of mud.

Maria Papadopoulos

Get ready to fly high in the sky — 110 feet in the air, to be exact — on the newest ride of the Brockton Fair, set to open Wednesday.

The Sky Flyer, a swing-style ride that takes you higher than any other swing ride at the fair, will be among several new offerings at the fair this year, said Richard Reithoffer, general manager of Reithoffer Shows.

“This will be the state’s largest fair, with amusement rides, and more spectacular rides, than any other fair in the state,” Reithoffer said Thursday.

Behind him, crews were setting up the Wild Mouse, “the most technically-advanced ride in the show.” It has sensors telling ride operators where each car is, he said.

Now in its 135th year, the 12-day event, opening Wednesday, will feature more than 55 amusement rides, magicians, pig races, fireworks and more at the fairgrounds on Belmont Street (Route 123). The fair will remain open through July 12.

Tens of thousands of people from across the region descend on the fair each year.

Popular attractions include the fireworks displays, demolition derby, professional wrestling, truck pull, and mud “bogging,” where drivers maneuver their vehicles through a thick pile of mud.

About 500 Reithoffer employees from around the country will be working the fair, said Reithoffer. He expects to hire between 100 and 200 local residents to work at the fair.

Jeff Alberts, who works as safety supervisor for Reithoffer Shows, was busy overseeing workers as they assembled some rides on Thursday.

“Every ride gets inspected every single day,” said Alberts, 42, of Tampa, Fla.

Alberts said he travels to 20 different communities with Reithoffer Shows every year.

“I have friends in every town, so it’s good to see every one of them,” Alberts said. “I can’t wait to see the people I know from Brockton.”

Meanwhile, police are gearing up for fair patrols. Security levels at the fair fluctuate depending on the time, said police Lt. Robert Sergio.

About 20 police officers will be on patrol on weekends, July 3 and July 4 because those days and nights draw the biggest crowds, Sergio said.

“The first few nights it’s usually a bit quieter,” he said, estimating about 10 officers would be on patrol on weekdays.

In addition to the uniformed officers overseeing the fairgrounds, Sergio said undercover officers will also be assigned. Additionally, nearby businesses have hired their own police details to boost security.

“There’s a lot more officers than you realize,” he said.

Police will have a satellite office on the fairgrounds with patrolmen and supervisors sharing the space with emergency medical services, an ambulance and a prisoner van.

Last year was “very orderly and safe,” Sergio said.

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under, or $15 for a special promotion that includes parking and admission for all persons in a vehicle.

For more information on Brockton Fair hours, discount days and other details go to www.brocktonfair.com.

Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.

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